Australian Open 2019: Djokovic, Williams sisters advance

Novak Djokovic of Serbia advanced out of the first round of the 2019 Australian Open on Tuesday in Melbourne. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 15 (UPI) --Novak Djokovic began his quest for a record seventh Australian Open title with a dominant win in the round of 128 on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Djokovic, the tournament's top seed in the men's bracket, defeated Mitchell Krueger in the first round 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The Serbian had six aces in the match and only had one serve broken.

Djokovic is looking for his third consecutive Grand Slam win. He moves on to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of 64.

Seventh-seeded Dominic Thiem beat France's Benoit Paire in five sets. Thiem took the opening two sets before Paire stormed back with 7-5, 6-1 wins. Thiem slammed the door with a 6-3 win in the fifth set.

No. 16 Milos Raonic held off Australian Nick Kyrgios in straight sets 6-4, 7-6, 6-4. It was Kyrgios' first time being eliminated in the first round in the last three majors. He made it to the fourth round in last year's Aussie Open.

In women's action, No. 1 seed Simona Halep battled with Kaia Kanepi. Kanepi won the first set 7-6, but Halep rallied from a rocky start and closed out the match with 6-4, 6-2 wins.

Fourth-seeded Naomi Osaka dominated Magda Linette, winning 6-4, 6-2 in her first match. Osaka had six aces and a 96 percent first serve win percentage.